LOCAL AND GENERAL

Wairarapa Times-Age, 1 November 1940, Page 4

LOCAL AND GENERAL

Frost in Masterton. A frost of 5.6 degrees was registered in Masterton this morning. ■ One Bankruptcy in Wairarapa. There was one bankruptcy recorded in the Wairarapa last month. Vital Statistics. The following vital statistics were j registered at the Masterton Courthouse in October, the figures for the corresponding month last year being given in parentheses: Births 31 (27); deaths 19 (17); marriages 5 (9). Drivers' Licenses. ' The Masterton Borough Council issued 25 motor drivers’ licenses during October, making the total for the current licensing year 2,268 licenses. The Masterton County Council issued 12 licenses, bringing the total issued to date to 1,230. Diphtheria Case. Mr T. A. Russell,, Borough Health Inspector, states that last month he recorded the first case of diphtheria (sporadic) for the past twelve months. The case was the only one of notifiable infectous disease reported in October. Battle Dress Output. The 15 clothing factories engaged in the production of battle dress in New Zealand have produced 55,000 suits since March, said the Minister of Industries and Commerce, Mr Sullivan, in a statement in Christchurch. The average production of the factories was 2500 suits a week, with a capacity of 3000 a week. Building Permits. The Masterton Borough Council in , October issued five building permits , for an estimated value of £1,588, as against five permits for an estimated value of £1,437 10s in October last < year. The Masterton County Council ' has not issued any building permits , since September, but the effect of i ] building under the Rural Housing Act' i has been the probable cause. Tug-of-war Contest. I

A tug-of-war contest at the Carterton Show yesterday between teams from the Wairarapa P. and A. Society and the Masterton A. and P. committees resulted in a win for the Masterton team after a hard struggle. The Masterton team will hold the cup until the Masterton Show next year. The I event gave committeemen considerable pleasure and although the cup had not been competed for during the last 13 years it was still a trophy worthy of the event.

Doctor's Writing. “I must compliment' this doctor on his writing. It is usually very difficult to decipher doctors’ writing,” said Mr Justice ’ O’Regan, of a report handed to him in the Compensation Court at Christchurch. “I am afraid your remarks apply not only to the medical profession, Your'Honour,” said Mr C. S. Thomas. “I had a letter from an M.P. once and it took me three months to discover who wrote it.” His Honour replied with a smile. Colour of Wool for Soldiers.

“The wool being sent to us by the Government to make garments for soldiers would put Jacob’s coat to shame,” said Miss B. E. Carnachan at a meeting of the Auckland Metropolitan Patriotic Committee. Miss Carnachan produced samples of green, pink and multi-coloured wools which had been received. She pointed out that the correct colours were being supplied for the Navy and Air Force, while men in the Army had to put up with these colours. Miss E. Melville said pink scarves and mittens would scarcely be suitable for the Army. It was decided to make representations to the Government to obtain khaki wool.'

Lord’s Prayer In Schools.

“So much misunderstanding has arisen in the public mind as a result of the recent resolution of the Wellington Education Board regarding the opening of schools with the Lord’s Prayer that it would be well for me at this stage to make the legal position clear,” said the Director of Education, Dr. C. E. Beeby, in a statement last night. “As the chairman of the education board stated at the meeting of the ! board, the question is not moral or religious but purely legal. I would stress that the Education Department is not, and, as the law now stands, cannot be, concerned with any other aspect than the legal one. Its only purpose in coming into the matter at all is to see that the law as it exists is not broken.”

Butter Marketing. A recommendation from the Stratford ward conference that after the war arrangements be made to use one brand only for all New Zealand dairy produce was discussed by the Dominion Dairy Cnference in Wellington yesterday. Moving the remit, Mr F. Parsons said it was felt the time would be opportune after the war to dispose of all produce under one brand. An amendment that consideration of the question be deferred till after the war was moved by Mr W. Marshall. It was rather premature to consider it now. he said. There might be some value in brands in distribution in Britain. It was difficult to visualise now what might be the method of purchase and distribution in Britain after the war. Mr C. P. Agar, a member of the Dairy Board, suggested that the question be referred to the board for consideration and report to some future conference. The board could consult with the dairy division and consider the reactions at the London end. This course was agreed to.

Conditions in Denmark.

A little information is slowly filtering through from the Continent regarding what has happened since the German invasion of Denmark, but any details must be viewed with every reserve. because of the absence of any means of confirmation, writes Sir Charles McCann (Australian AgentGeneral and Trade Commissioner in London). All news so far to hand emphasises the effect of the British blockade and of Germany's exploitation of livestock and foodstuffs. Reliable correspondence reports that as there is no fodder to feed them, and the British blockade is preventing any foodstuffs from entering Denmark, it will be necessary to reduce livestock immediately by 75.000 head of cattle. 1.500.000 pigs, and 7,000.000 head of poultry. The Germans are. it is reported, extremely anxious to secure pedigree pigs and cattle, and just recently they | increased their prices for 12.000 head of cattle, but farmers are not at all desirous of accepting payment by a system of Berlin credits,